Table top



E. F. WAN NER Dec. 5, 1933.

TABLE TOP Filed May 3, 1933 //v VENTOR 50 W//\/ P. WQ/V/VEE fi/ add/AW A TTORNE Y5 Patented Dec. 5, 1933 UNiTED STATES PATENT or ies.

2 Claims.

My invention relates to table tops and more particularly to tops which include flexible coverings such as the tops of light weight folding tables commonly referred to as card tables. The

object of the invention is to provide a novel construction in which the table top is securely connected with the table top frame, and the flexible covering is fixed in place in an efficient and simple manner. Other objects will appear from the description hereinafter and the features of novelty will be pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates an example of the invention without defining its limits, Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view showing the novel top construction; Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a detail section of the top frame.

As shown in the drawing the table top comprises a top frame 5, generally of rectangular form and constructed of wood or any other suitable material, the members of said frame 5 being secured together in any conventional manner as by gluing. Each member of the top frame 5 is provided with an upwardly open groove 6 which together forms a groove extending completely about said frame in the upper face thereof; the groove 5 has a stepped bottom to form a downwardly extending recess 7 as shown in Fig. 3. Along the inner edge of the groove 6, the top frame '5 is cut away to provide a horizontal surface 8 located below the upper surface 9 of said frame 5 for the purpose to be more fully set forth hereinafter. A metal strip 10 is fitted into the recess 7 and secured therein by friction alone or in any other suitable manner, said strip 10 extending along the four sides of the frame 5 as indicated in Fig. l. The strip 10 extends upwardly from the recess 7 in surface engagement with the inner wall of the groove 6 and projects upwardly beyond the surface 8 to form therewith an angular recess 11 which extends continuously about said frame 5 as shown in Fig. 1; the strip 10 is preferably flush with the upper face of the frame 5 and in conjunction with the opposite surface of the groove 6 forms a groove of reduced width which terminates in said upper face of the frame 5 as illustrated in Fig. 3.

The top 12 may be made of any suitable mate-- rial and as shown in the drawing is constructed of three ply veneer, and has its peripheral edges fitted into the angular recess 11 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2; the arrangement is such that the top 12 rests upon the surface 8 and has its edge faces in surface engagement with that portion of the strip 10 which projects upwardly beyond said complete the top presents an attractive appearsurface 8. Any suitable method of securing the top 12 to the frame 5 may be utilized, as for instance by gluing the parts together; the latter are so dimensioned that in the assembled condition thereof the upper surface of the top 12 pref- 6e erably will be flush with the top face of the frame 5 and the upper edge of the strip 10 as illustrated in Fig. 2. The table top further includes a flexible covering 13 of suitable material which is stretched over the top 12 and extends over the strip 10 into the groove 6 in which it is secured in any convenient and well known way so as to be anchored in place; if desired a padding may be located beneath the covering 13 in the customary manner.

With the arrangement set forth herein the table top 12 and the top frame 5 are securely and rigidly connected together in a simple manner, and at the same time the flexible covering 13 is efficiently fastened inplace in a stretched condition to provide a smooth even surface in the table top. The metal strip 10 enables the flexible covering 18 to be forced into the groove 6 and effectively stretched over the top 12 with a minimum of effort, and said strip 10, by coverso ing the edge faces of the top 12 protects the latter against injury and wear. By providing the separate metal strip 10 and connecting the same with the top frame 5 as set forth above, the manufacture of said frame 5 and the table top as a whole is materially simplified and the cost of production is reduced to a minimum. At the same time the side edges of the top 12 are in close proximity to the point at which the flexible covering 13 extends into the groove 6 and at which the greatest tensional force is exerted; as a result the table top 12 is firmly held downwardly by the covering 13 against any tendency to separate itself from the surface 8 of the frame 5. When ance and has an absolutely smooth and even table surface, and at the same time is readily combined with the customary foldable legs; the construction of the complete top is such that it permits the use of any well known or special type ice of latching means for locking the legs in their operative and inoperative positions.

Various changes in the specific forms shown and described may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A table top of the kind described comprising a frame provided with a groove in its upper face and having a recess extending downwardly from the bottom of said groove, said frame having a horizontal surface below its upper face adjacent to said groove, a metal strip fitting said recess and projecting upwardly beyond said horizontal surface to form therewith an angular recess, a top extending into said angular recess and supported on said horizontal surface with the edge faces of said top in surface engagement with said metal strip, and a flexible covering extending over said top and over said metal strip and secured in said groove.

2. A table top of the kind described comprising a frame provided with an open groove having :9.

stepped bottom, said frame having a horizontal surface below its upper face adjacent to said groove, a metal strip secured in said groove and engaging the lower portion of said stepped bottom and projecting upwardly beyond said horizontal surface to form therewith an angular recess, a top extending into said angular recess and supported on said horizontal surface with its edge faces in surface engagement with said metal sb'np, and a flexible covering secured in said groove and extending over said metal strip and top.

EDWIN P. WANNER. 

